This module in the philosophy of psychiatry will critically appraise several main approaches to the concept of mental disorder. First, the critiques of mainstream psychiatry, beginning in the 1960s and still current, mainly to the effect that normal distress or social deviance is being inappropriately pathologized; second, conceptualisations of mental disorder in the standard psychiatry diagnostic manuals of the World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association; and third, ‘naturalist’ approaches to the definition of mental disorder that invoke population statistical or evolutionary theory based norms. Distinctive features include coverage of various approaches to this multi-faceted problem. Learning objectives include understanding contemporary controversies about the nature and extent of mental disorder, conceptualisations used in mainstream psychiatry, and theoretical definitions in terms of human nature.

Further information

Students will be introduced to and receive training in certain key ideas from the interface between philosophy and psychiatry, at a level of sophistication appropriate to a level-7 module. In particular, topics will include:

Contemporary controversies about the nature and extent of mental disorder

Sedgewick, P. (1982). Psycho Politics: Laing, Foucault, Goffman, Szasz, and the future of mass psychiatry. Harper and Row: New York

The modules run in each academic year are subject to change in line with staff availability and student demand so there is no guarantee every module will run. Module descriptions and information may vary depending between years.